Rawgust Beginner’s Guide: How to Start Raw Feeding Your Dog or Cat

Posted on 1 August 2026
By Dr. Jill Tack, Board Certified Naturopathic Doctor
Posted in cat nutrition, dog nutrition, Michigan Pet Store, raw cat food, raw dog food, raw feeding, Rawgust, the pet beastro
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A friendly beginner’s guide to choosing, transitioning, portioning, and safely handling complete and balanced raw food.

Starting raw feeding can feel like a big leap, especially when every website, social media post, and pet food label seems to offer different advice.

At The Pet Beastro, we believe feeding better should feel exciting, not intimidating. Rawgust is our invitation to explore fresh, species-appropriate nutrition one manageable step at a time.

You do not have to empty your pantry, overhaul every meal, or become a pet nutrition expert overnight. With a balanced product, a gradual plan, and guidance from someone who understands your pet’s needs, raw feeding can become a practical part of everyday life.

What is Raw Feeding?

Raw feeding entails offering foods made primarily with uncooked or minimally processed animal ingredients, such as meat, organs, bone, and other carefully selected ingredients. A properly formulated commercial raw food is designed to provide nutrients in the appropriate proportions for a dog or cat’s life stage.

Raw feeding may include:

Complete frozen raw meals
Freeze-dried raw food
Raw food used for one meal each day
Raw toppers added to another balanced diet
Rotating appropriately formulated proteins
A gradual transition from the pet’s current food

Raw feeding is not simply putting grocery-store meat in your pet’s bowl. Muscle meat alone does not provide every vitamin, mineral, fatty acid, and trace nutrient a pet requires.

When choosing a daily diet, look for a nutritional adequacy statement showing that it is complete and balanced for your pet’s species and life stage. AAFCO explains that foods making this claim must meet established nutritional requirements through formulation or feeding protocols.

Raw feeding quick-start list

Before serving the first bowl:

Choose a complete and balanced formula
Select a protein your pet already tolerates
Read the manufacturer’s feeding and transition directions
Keep raw food frozen until it is needed
Thaw it safely in the refrigerator
Wash hands, bowls, utensils, and preparation surfaces
Ask for guidance when something feels unclear

The simplest way to begin raw feeding is to choose a complete and balanced commercial raw formula, introduce it gradually, follow safe handling practices, and adjust the amount based on your pet’s weight, activity, age, and body condition.

Why pet parents explore raw feeding

Pet parents often begin exploring raw food because they want to add more moisture, animal-based ingredients, and minimally processed nutrition to the bowl.

Some also report noticing changes such as:

More enthusiasm at mealtime
Smaller or firmer stools
A softer, shinier coat
More consistent energy
Improved satisfaction after meals
Better tolerance of carefully selected ingredients

Every pet is different, and no food can guarantee a specific health outcome. Diet is one piece of a pet’s complete wellness picture.

The goal is not to chase overnight results. The goal is to provide balanced nutrition consistently and watch how your pet responds over time.

Read Now: 10 Benefits of Raw Feeding for Dogs and Cats

Three ways to begin

Add a small raw topper:
A topper can help your pet experience a new flavor and texture without replacing the entire meal.
When the topper is not complete and balanced, keep extras limited so they do not significantly dilute the nutrients supplied by the main diet. Our team can help you determine an appropriate amount.
Replace one meal
Some households serve raw for breakfast and another complete diet for dinner. This can make fresh feeding easier to fit into a busy schedule or budget.
Transition to complete raw meals
Pet parents who want to feed fully raw can gradually replace the current food with a complete and balanced raw formula. Follow the product’s transition instructions and move at a pace that works for your pet.

How to handle raw food safely

Raw food requires the same thoughtful sanitation practices you would use when handling uncooked meat for your family.

Remember to:

Thaw food in the refrigerator, not on the counter
Keep it separate from human food
Serve it in a clean bowl
Refrigerate unused portions promptly
Discard food that has remained out too long
Wash preparation surfaces thoroughly
Clean your pet’s bowl after every raw meal

Households with young children, older adults, pregnant people, or individuals with weakened immune systems should speak with their physician and veterinarian before feeding raw food.

What pet parents ask

Do I need to feed fully raw?
No. Some pet parents feed complete raw meals, while others add a small amount of raw or fresh food to their pet’s existing routine.

Is freeze-dried raw still raw?
Yes. Freeze-dried raw food has had moisture removed at low temperatures, but it has not been cooked in the traditional sense. Follow the manufacturer’s handling and rehydration directions.

Can I make raw food at home?
Homemade diets must be formulated carefully. Meat, organs, and vegetables combined without a professionally prepared recipe may still be nutritionally incomplete.

Can puppies and kittens eat raw food?
They can eat products that are explicitly complete and balanced for growth or all life stages. Growing animals have precise nutritional needs, so guidance is especially important.

What if my pet has a medical condition?
Speak with your veterinarian or a qualified pet nutrition professional before changing the diet. Some pets require modified fat, mineral, fiber, protein, or calorie levels.

FAQ

How quickly should I transition?
There is no universal schedule. Some pets adjust quickly, while pets with sensitive digestion may need a slower transition. Follow the food manufacturer’s directions and monitor stool quality, appetite, and comfort.

Should I rotate proteins immediately?
Begin with one formula so you can observe how your pet responds. Once the diet is working well, appropriate protein rotation may provide variety.

Does raw feeding require supplements?
A complete and balanced commercial raw food is designed to meet daily nutritional needs when fed as directed. Adding supplements unnecessarily can disrupt that balance.

How do I know whether the portion is correct?
Monitor body condition, weight, stool quality, appetite, and activity level. Feeding charts are a starting point, not a permanent prescription.

Start Rawgust with support

You do not have to figure out raw feeding alone. Bring us your pet’s current food, age, approximate weight, activity level, and any ingredient concerns. We will help you compare options and find a starting point that feels realistic.

Visit The Pet Beastro in Madison Heights or Warren, Michigan, and walk the raw food section with our knowledgeable team. No judgment, no pressure, and no need to be paw-fect on day one.